Friday 31 August 2012

Barbour | To Ki To Bicycle Jacket
























I've been jacket hunting again around the Barbour Factory. It's something I do often, searching through the rails of garments, looking for To Ki stuff mainly. 

The latest hunt was a successful one, with me finding this little gem. The To Ki To Bicycle jacket, from the Spring/Summer 2011 collection. The fit is bang on, and the price wasn't bad either. The thing with To Ki stuff is, it not only looks great but it's designed to fit the purpose. When my new road bike is up and running this will fit the bill brilliantly, classy in design, yet rugged enough to with stand daily use in all weathers when commuting or running errands around town. 

It's waterproof and it's got pockets in all the right places. Two Velcro fastening chest pockets, two zip closure chest pockets, a large pocket on the back with two zip closures and two hip pockets with press stud fastening. Safety is even thought of with a nice reflective strip on the back of the hood. Under the arm pits there are zip openings to let air in to stop you sweating, good idea if your commuting. It features a tail on the rear of the jacket for added protection and elasticated draw strings on the hood, middle hem and bottom hem. 

www.barbour.com

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Newfangle Clothing

Coming this September...

Newfangle Clothing is a new online menswear store featuring brands like New Balance, Penfield, Barbour, Lyle & Scott, The Casual Connoisseur and much more.

Check out the promotional video, a reflection of a sophisticated, modern, relaxed and urban environment, and a possible contrast between the calmness of the sea and the urban rhythm. It also states the lifestyle behind the store, always on the lookout for new brands, trends, details and quality items.



www.newfangleclothing.com

Thursday 16 August 2012

Scotts Last Expedition



















This is the 'Holy Grail' of books, for those like myself who love their garments, iconic old school outdoors-men and the outdoors it's self. 

On January 18th 1912 Captain Scott, along with four fellow explorers, became the first British explorers to reach the South Pole. Along the way explorers endured -40°c temperatures and crippling winds. Nigel Cabourn Authentic Winter 2012 Collection is inspired by the 100th Anniversary of the historic event.


The book is entitled Scotts Last Expedition 1912 - 2012. 
Cabourn teamed up with British printers Potts to create this limited edition (2000 copies) iconic lookbook, to showcase his AW12 collection. For the past six years Nigel has been waiting to launch the celebratory collection to honour the 100th Anniversary of Scotts last expedition. The book is given to those who purchase the Captain R.F. Scott Naval Jacket.






















This collection is known as Nigel Cabourn Authentic Limited Edition 2, which follows the success of Limited Edition 1, The Ascent Of Cabourn, in 2003. The collection consists of 12 pieces producing 100 pieces each on the outerwear and 300 pieces on the accessories. Each garment has an individual sequenced number to show the authenticity of the Limited Edition collection. Each individual style is named after an explorer involved in Scott's expedition in 1912.

Cabourn and Potts Printing got this book spot on creating a vintage, worn look. Basing the book on the original Scott's Last Expedition journal, which documents the journey and the explorers who undertook the journey. Archival photos are shown alongside the new collection, showing the garments worn by the explorers, which Nigel's designs are based on.

Tuesday 14 August 2012

ACM Out & About | Steam Trains & Fine Ales




















Steam trains and fine ales. About three weeks ago now we took a little jaunt to North Yorkshire. Its a place we love dearly, a place we go back to time and time again. While we were there we decided to take a little trip to Whitby and what better way to travel than on board an old steam train. The train operates along an 18 mile line between the market town of Pickering and the village of Grosmont, through the heart of the North York Moors National Park. They (NYMR) also operate trains to Whitby on certain days of the year. The railway passes through a variety of scenery, from wooded valley to heather clad moorland. It also calls at picturesque villages along the way and offers access to unspoilt countryside and the sea for walkers and cyclists.


We had to get amongst this (we're not train geeks or anything, we just couldn't let the chance to ride on one of the earliest and most historic lines in the North of England pass us by, we appreciate good old stuff like this), so we got our tickets to travel from Pickering to Whitby.




































































































We arrived at Pickering station at around 8:30am and had a look around while we waited for the 9:00am train to arrive. Soon as you stepped foot on the platform you immediately felt like you had taken a step back in time. The station roof was built to the designs of the original structure which was installed in the middle of the 19th century and there was loads of old miscellaneous items on the platform such as luggage carts, cases and advertisement signs.

 


























The journey was a comfortable one and at 10:45am we arrived in the seaside town, Whitby. It was overcast and a bit chilly (I was beginning to wish I never wore shorts). 

Whitby functioned as a fishing settlement until, in the 18th century, it developed as a port and centre for shipbuilding and whaling, trade in locally mined alum and the manufacture of Whitby jet jewellrey. It's also home of the Abbey ruins at the top of the East cliff, it's the oldest and most prominent landmark, where Caedmon, the earliest English poet, lived. The town also has strong literary tradition and has featured in literary works, television and cinema; most famously in Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula. 


After a bite to eat we had a couple of hours to kill, before our train back to Pickering was due, and what better way to spend it than in some of the cool little pubs this seaside town has to offer. Nearly all of the pubs served traditional ales which was a bonus! Once we hit the pubs and the bevvies were flowing time didn't half go by, and before we knew it we were running back to the station to catch our train.






We arrived back in Pickering feeling rather worn out, however being greeted by sunshine and warm temperatures soon picked us up and we decide to round off the trip in 'The Station Hotel' (which was only a few feet away from the train station), with a few pints of 'Greene King IPA' and a couple of games of pool. All in all a great day out, here's to the next one!ACM

Thursday 9 August 2012

UVU | Bionic Race Jacket




UVU widens their Ultra performance running collection with the addition of the Bionic Race Jacket at £625.

'The Bionic Race Jacket' uses the same climate control membrane technology, same waterproof and breathable properties as the sell-out 'Ultra Race Jacket' from the 'Extreme Cold Race System'. Their Bio-Engineered membrane technology is applied to a softer base fabric to create a more lightweight shell which is waterproof, wind-proof and has four-way stretch.

Like the UVU Ultra it packs in to it's own hood and has abrasion resistant properties. The jacket is created to meet the needs of an Ultra Runner but versatile enough to wear everyday no matter what your distance. 'The Bionic Race Jacket' has underarm ventilation zips, a sweat patch on the forearm, single handed hood adjustment, iconic storage pockets, water resistant zips and subtle reflective details.

A great stripped down version of the Ultra Race Jacket, that is more affordable for those who want a high quality, performance jacket for everyday use.


www.uvuracing.com

Sunday 5 August 2012

Shades Of Grey by Micah Cohen | Safari Jacket





















I recently bought this 'Safari Jacket' by Shades of Grey by Micah Cohen about two weeks ago in the Coggles sale, when on my jaunt to York. It caught my eye straight away, hanging there on the sale rail with it's woven floral camouflage design. A great mix of patterns if you ask me, something different and you're sure to stand out from the crowd.

www.shadesofgreyclothing.com

Friday 3 August 2012

Barbour Heritage | By Northern Threads















We have something special for you today, the first ever guest post on the ACM blog. It's by our new local mates at Northern Threads. They're as passionate as we are about clothing and the North East, so we thought it was only right to give the guys a slot on here to talk about that North East brand we both love dearly and is known all around the world, Barbour.

                                  
                                     Barbour Heritage by Northern Threads

British heritage brands are enjoying a bit of a golden age at the moment with many fashion-aware gents identifying it as a mark of quality. Let’s face it, it makes a lot of sense – if a company has survived for over 100 years they must be doing something right! One of these brands is north east-based Barbour; this is a brand close to our hearts because we’re based in the same hometown and their heritage is very much ours too.

It all started back in 1894 in the Market Place in South Shields and today the business is still in family hands – now into its 5th generation and still in the same town. All of their practically-minded garments have grown out of the culture and heritage of England’s north east coast; resulting in a unique blend of fashion that has gained a global appeal. Welcome to the world of Barbour – a place of fishing, shooting, motorcycles and enjoying the great outdoors.


Motorcycling





























Duncan Barbour, a keen motorcyclist, introduced a new range for fellow petrol heads back in 1934 that quickly took off and is still going today in the Barbour International & Steve McQueen ranges. Off screen, McQueen raced motorcycles. He raced in the International Six Day Trials for Team USA in 1964 wearing Barbour’s iconic International motorcycle jacket. The Barbour Steve McQueen collection celebrates that union.

The International has a rich product history; it’s one of those items that after you purchase has an instant sentimental value, this becomes even more apparent when you realise that most Barbour jacket owners wear theirs to death. In fact, the more worn and beaten up it is the more sought after it tends to be – largely because all styles, especially vintage ones, are classic pieces that are made to last and be passed on.


Seafaring




























Being situated at the mouth of the river Tyne, there’s a strong seafaring/maritime culture and Barbour has been there to provide gear for those men and women tackling the unforgiving North Sea. In 1939 at the outbreak of WWII Barbour helped the cause by designing the Ursula suit which became standard issue for members of the British Submarine Service. The Ursula suit was named after the U-class submarine of the same name whose commander Captain George Philips was pivotal in getting them produced.

Nowadays the seafarers (mostly fisherman) in this region depend upon the hard-wearing waxed jackets and strong knits that are manufactured in the Simonside warehouse. That’s over 70 years of supplying brave British seaman.


Royal Approval






























1974 marks the year that Barbour received the first Royal warrant from the Duke of Edinburgh and this was only the start of a long-running relationship with the Royal family, who have consistently chosen Barbour for their outdoor-wear.The second Royal warrant was issued by the Queen in 1988 and Margaret Barbour was made a Dame in 2001, leaving the business in a privileged position and increasing its profile even further.

It’s not only the Royal family and Princess Diana who favoured the iconic green waxed jacket; celebrities too flock to the brand including Lily Allen, Peaches Geldof, Rufus Wainwright and the Arctic Monkeys, with Alex Turner sporting one of their jackets on stage during their 2007 Glastonbury set.

All in all, it’s a British brand to be proud of and to be seen in, you can purchase the latest Barbour styles online at Northern Threads.NT